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It’s a good feeling: Walking up to a job site with your Lincoln Viking helmet while the other welders eyeball you like “Oh dang, wish I had a hood like that!” With their reliability, comfort and professional-level features, Lincoln’s helmets have become incredibly coveted among the welding community.
However, many welders don’t actually know the differences between Lincoln’s various helmets. In this ultimate guide, we’ll take you through all the benefits of the different series so you can find the best one for your needs and budget.
Viking 3350 Series
The 3350 helmets are often considered the best helmets of Lincoln’s current consumer line (though the 3350 ADV is actually a newer, higher-tier model). If you’re looking for a reliable auto-darkening helmet with most of the newest innovations, the 3350 is the perfect option.
One of the 3350’s biggest improvements over other Lincoln helmets is a larger viewing area. The 3350 has a 12.5-inch view size, which is a 34% increase compared to their next best model. That increased visibility plus Lincoln’s 4C technology means you’ll be able to see your welds with color and clarity that welders could have only dreamed about 10 years ago.
The Lincoln 3350 is also one of the most comfortable helmets on the market. With this model, Lincoln reduced the weight of the helmet down to 3 lbs. They also redesigned the headgear and included an external grind button to make it easier to switch modes.
Viking 3350 ADV Series
The 3350 ADV is the newest Lincoln consumer welding helmet on the market. It has all the benefits of the 3350 models including a larger viewing area and 4C technology.
The major difference between the 3350 and 3350 ADV is the new auto shade technology (exclusive to the 3350 ADV helmets). While all auto-darkening helmets will shade your view when you strike an arc, how dark they actually get traditionally had to be set manually. With the new auto shade tech, the 3350 ADV automatically adjusts the shade level as needed. You can read more about it in our dedicated article on auto shade technology here.
The 3350 ADV model also includes a modular light that brightens up darker areas when you're welding in dim environments. The LED automatically turns off and on as you weld so you aren’t wasting batteries. It’s not a complete game changer, but it sure beats trying to carefully position a flashlight or haul around worklights.
Finally, the 3350 ADV also has Bluetooth tech so you can connect with the Lincoln GearPoint App. This automatically tracks your welding time and any routine maintenance the helmet needs.
Viking 2450 Series
The 2450 series is the little brother of the 3350. It was designed to offer a cheaper option, albeit one that didn’t have as many benefits compared to the 3350.
With a 2450 helmet, you get almost all of Lincoln’s modern innovations including 4C lenses. This tech gives you truer colors and better contrast to help reduce eye fatigue and improve your welding. You’ll also get the redesigned headgear and external grind button.
The main differences between the 3350 and 2450 helmets are the price and viewing size. The 2450 is friendlier to your wallet, but it is a 34% reduction in viewing area compared to the 3350. That being said, the 9.32-inch lens on the 2450 is still impressive compared to many other welding helmets.
Based on those differences, both the 2450 and 3350 helmets are excellent options and which one works best for you will entirely depend on your budget vs. how much you care about a larger viewing area.
Viking 2450 ADV Series
Similar to the 3350 series, the 2450 series also has its own ADV model which improves on the base version. This option has all the benefits of the 2450 version plus a modular light and digital controls. That being said, the 2450 ADV does NOT include auto shade technology. As that’s one of our favorite benefits of the 3350 ADV, it might make sense for you to spend a little more cash to get the higher tier of helmet.
Vikings 1840 and 1740 Series
Both the 1840 and 1740 helmets are excellent options, if you’re on a tighter budget. While their prices are definitely their biggest benefit compared to other models, both series do include Lincoln’s 4C lenses which offer truer colors and better contrast to reduce eye fatigue.
The biggest difference between these models and the more expensive ones is the smaller viewing area. The 1840 has a 7-inch lens and the 1740 has an even smaller 6.3 inch lens. Depending on your needs, that visibility might be just fine or you may consider spending more for a larger viewing area.
With the guide above, you should have a clearer understanding of the differences between Lincoln’s various models. Here at Welding Supplies from IOC, we occasionally offer discounted or free helmets with the purchase of certain machines. You can see those special deals on our rebate page or as a free gift on certain products like the Lincoln Power MIG 262MP.
